Schnauzers are adorable furry friends. Giving them a Teddy Bear Schnauzer haircut can make you ogle at them for an eon. You can get confused about the best Schnauzer cut to select in a dog world full of Schnauzer haircut styles.
If you are looking for a simple one-length haircut for your Schnauzer, the teddy bear cut is your match. So what else do you need to know about the Teddy Bear Schnauzer haircut?
The three types of Schnauzer are Miniature, Standard, and Giant Schnauzer. The following are the notable distinguishing characteristics of each breed:
A Teddy Bear Cut for Schnauzer leaves one-length fur on all parts of the dog. The remaining hair is usually 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters) long. Sometimes, the hair on the dog’s face can be shorter to give the dog a regal, serious, and show-dog-like look.
However, most Schnauzer lovers prefer leaving the hair on the head and ears intact to give the dog a teddy-bear look. Also, they clip the dog’s beard in a rounded style.
When you give your Schnauzer a teddy bear cut, it becomes easy to brush and maintain its hair. If the fur of your Schnauzer becomes matted every time before your next dog grooming appointment, the teddy bear cut can be an ideal intervention to stop the issue.
You can opt for hand stripping or clipping your Schnauzer to give it a Teddy Bear dog haircut. However, hand stripping is out of fashion, labor-intensive, and expensive. On the other hand, clipping requires training and specialized equipment.
If you want to get the teddy bear shave for your Schnauzer, how do you find the best pet hair groomer? You do not want to spend your time and money to get a shabby haircut for your dog. So, here are some of the strategies that you can use to get the best pet hair groomer in town:
Dogs with the best haircuts are a walking advertisement of the groomers behind the good results. Your veterinarian, kennel manager, or neighbor is a good resource that you can tap to identify the best groomers in your area. Alternatively, you can spot a nicely-shaved dog and ask its owner about the groomer behind the good looks of their dog.
If you identify a potential pet groomer, ask questions about their shaving prowess. You can ask about the grooming school they attended. Also, ask about their experience with Schnauzers. Lastly, ask whether the groomer belongs to any pet grooming association.
Some states certify pet groomers. Any professional pet groomer cannot shy off from providing their certifications. If they do not have the appropriate certificates, drop them off.
Sometimes, pet groomers operate under a tight schedule. If you make your inquiries but find the groomer busy, ask them to contact you when at ease. It is difficult for a pet groomer to talk during the grooming process. So, take your time until you get your questions answered.
It is hard to trust a first-time pet groomer. However, believe in the decision that you made to select the groomer. You did your due diligence, and all you need to do now is see the results. Also, trust the groomer to yield to your expectations. It is okay to feel nervous, but believe that the clipping process will grow well.
Do I Need to Learn How to Cut My Schnauzer’s Hair at Home?
When it comes to grooming our schnauzers, its best we know how to properly brush and bathe our furry friends as often as necessary based on their breed and lifestyle. But what about cutting their luscious locks?
Schaefer says its ultimately up to pet parents to decide, adding that grooming at home can be a bonding experience for you and your pet. “Your professional groomer can help you select the proper tools and show you the proper technique,” Schaefer says. “Many owners that are interested in keeping their pet more traditional and opt for hand stripping also do some of this process on their own to help manage costs.”
Grooming equipment can be a rather large investment of money, she explains—with dog clippers ranging between $250 and $600 and additional blades costing $30 to $50. Youll also need a proper table with an arm, a hair dryer, brushes, combs, carding knives, etc.
“It can cost initially anywhere from $500 to a couple thousand to groom one pet at home. Then there is the time,” Schaefer says. “Most grooms, which include properly bathing and drying your dog, can take 2–3 hours for a miniature schnauzer and easily 4–6 for a giant schnauzer. Plus, the clean up after!”
Whether you want to take your schnauzer to a professional groomer or do it yourself, its important your dog is regularly groomed starting at a young age. Schaefer recommends your schnauzer is exposed to a professional grooming setting periodically so theyre comfortable and confident whenever its time for an appointment.
“Building a relationship with a trusted groomer will ensure that your pet is happy and comfortable with the grooming process, and in turn, groomers often become the first line of health,” Schaefer says. “A groomer will notice any changes on a regularly seen schnauzer that may need follow up with your veterinary professional.”
How Often Do Schnauzers Need Haircuts?
Mini. Standard. Giant. No matter which schnauzer you have, they all share one common characteristic: dense, wiry, medium-length coats. That means that grooming is an absolute must for your sweet schnauzer. If youre wondering how often youll need to schedule your schnauzers grooming appointments, Schaefer says to plan for an appointment every 4-6 weeks as that timeline mirrors the dogs natural shedding cycle for optimal coat and skin health.
“All three varieties are traditionally groomed by a process called hand stripping, which is the process by which the groomer manually clears all of the dead hair to make space for a new, fresh coat to grow in,” Schaefer says. “Since their days as working pets, hand stripping has fallen out of fashion because it is a much more labor intensive and expensive process than clipping the coat that requires specialized tools and training; not to mention, most schnauzers now patrol couches instead of farmland.”
Schaefer explains that like all dogs, schnauzers have a compound hair follicle—meaning up to 30 hairs can grow out of just one follicle! Only one of these hairs is a “guard hair,” a hair that gives the coat its distinct color and texture. This hair starts its growth at the very base of the hair bulb and should be taken care of by the groomer, even if you opt to have the coat clipped, she adds.
“This removes excessive undercoat and allows that single guard hair to reach the surface of the skin. If this is not done, schnauzers can develop a condition known as schnauzer bumps, which are—in essence—a schnauzer version of ingrown hairs,” Schaefer says. “These little bumps can be irritating to the pet, have a potential to become infected, or cause the coat to look patchy, as no hair can escape the affected follicle.”
How Often Should Schnauzers Get Haircuts?
All types of Schnauzers have wiry, dense, and medium-length coats. This kind of coat makes grooming a necessity for all Schnauzers. So, what is the schedule for Schnauzer cuts?
Experts recommend taking your schnauzer for a haircut after four to six weeks. This timeline matches the natural shedding cycle of your dog. If you follow this schedule, you will give your dog optimal skin and coat health.
Notably, Schnauzers have compound hair follicles. For this reason, one hair follicle can support up to 30 strands of hair. However, only one strand becomes the guard hair. Guard hairs provide every dog with a coat of distinct texture and color. The guard hair starts growing at the base of a hair bulb. Therefore, it requires care even though the coat requires clipping.
Clipping helps the guard hair to get to the surface of the Schnauzer’s coat. If this hair does not get to the skin, your Schnauzer can develop bumps. Coat bumps are an indication of ingrown hair. They are irritating to the dog. Also, they can get an infection and give rise to a patchy coat because no hair can grow from the affected follicle.
Introduce your dog to clipping at an early age, regardless of whether it will be getting homemade or professional haircuts. Experts advise exposing a Schnauzer to professional grooming periodically to get the dog used to the exercise.
If you build a trusted relationship with a dog groomer, your dog will feel comfortable and happy during every clipping process. Also, the groomer will notice any health changes in your dog and advise you to take it to a vet. So, take time to identify an ideal pet groomer and create a long-term relationship.
FAQ
What is the difference between a teddy bear cut and a puppy cut?
The teddy bear cut leaves your schnauzer with “one length all over, with a teddy bear head and schnauzer beard that is trimmed with more of a rounded style instead of square-like with a traditional clip.”
What is a Schnauzer puppy cut?